We love cooking a nice dinner together, but my favorite thing is to dig out the fondue pot I was given years ago, melt some chocolate, and dip strawberries (or other fruit -whatever isn't too expensive). pair that up with my favorite $6 champagne and we're good.
We usually get takeout from one of our favorite restaurants (with a coupon if possible) and I make a decadent dessert of his choice.
The candy comes the day after when it's marked down!
I didn't have a chance to read everyone else's so I hope it hasn't been said already...
I think this is a nice thing to do in a park, but its always cold around here in February so we do it inside.
Instead of going to one of those "Paint your own pottery" places that cost a bunch of money I like to get 2 small canvases and one big one and some paint supplies from the craft store.
You can start with each person painting their favorite memory, or what you love about the other person or where you see the couple in the future on the little canvases without the other person seeing what you paint.
Then you two get together and paint something on the larger canvas together.
When you're done painting you can exchange the smaller paintings as gifts to each other and hang the larger one somewhere you'll both see it.
I have purchased some stuff(which gave you ECBs) and retured the stuff I don't need. Tonight one of a very nice CVS working was telling me that be carefule that don't return the item which has already give you ECBs otherwise, CVS are starting to have police crack down on those people who did this. Is that true? It sounds scary...am I going to jail? This guy told me that they have sent a lot of people to jail already. Is he just trying to scare me or it is real thing?
I have heard about such sites, like Associated Content and Suite 101, but have been nervous to try them because as a professional writer I fear degrading my byline. But maybe that's silly, and then again I could probably write under a pseudonym if these sites can really generate a useful income stream.
First I hit up Trader Joe's for some awesome, well priced roses on my way home from work. Then I swing home, will clean the house up and light some candles. Next, we have already talked about staying in and making a very simple and light meal. Chicken picatta and angel hair pasta. Then we will take a nice bubble bath. Even though it seems like the night is laid out, it moves seemlessly when you are in love ;o)
Last year for Valentine's Day, I made my husband a booklet of dates - 52 different ideas for dates that I wrote on nice cardstock and bound together. The idea was that he could pick one of the dates each week. The ideas included a picnic in the park, or a visit to a local museum, or going to a movie, or just staying in.
My frugal tip for Valentine's Day would be to have a Valentine's Day event the day before like a 'picnic' work lunch, so you surprise them and save some money and avoid all the other couples trying to do generic Valentine's Day things like having dinner at an expensive restaurant.
Surprise your significant other at work since February 13 is a Friday with a nice brown bag lunch you packed filled with heart shaped sandwiches (use a heart shaped cookie cutter), heart shaped cookies, some sparkling grape juice in place of champagne (and grape juice is definitely ok for work environment, alcohol may not be). Bring a nice little paper tablecloth from the dollar store, buy two plastic champagne glasses, have a little toast and talk about how much you mean to each other.
They're sure to be surprised and this is a gift from the heart -- which never costs much, but will mean a lot, and they'll always remember. :-) Happy Valentine's Day
We're hitting the fanciest restaurant in town--the day before Valentines, during the early bird special. Fantastic food, beautiful atmosphere--but no long lines or Valentines Day crowds.
I like to do something special for my hubby at work, too--bring him a single rose or some cupcakes. Something that makes the other folks at work jealous that he's married to such a cool wife. ;)
My boyfriend and I are both broke grad students, but we still want to have our special celebrations when we can. So this year instead of a big night out with 3 courses, wine, and all the works, I decided to make a reservation at a really fancy steak house in town - for lunch! The menu is almost identical to its dinner menu, but at a fraction of the price. We're just excited to finally go to this nice restaurant together and not break the bank - and this way, we can grab a bottle of wine and a DVD and just have a relaxing, low-key, low-cost night together at home while still having a full-out special day for ourselves.
We have never really gone whole hog with the Valentine's celebration thing, but it is a nice opportunity to cook a lovely dinner together. We try to create a theme - my favorite over the past 10 years has been "Places I Have Visited." So there were some crazy culinary matches, but all of the food was wonderful -- and what doesn't go with champagne?!
I like #3 on Xin Liu's post: Cook a favorite meal at home. Sharing a meal is such an intimate practice, especially if you're conscious of it. And when you put your own effort into it, it's even more special.
The best thing I ever did was to let go of my expectations for what my dh and I "should" do for Valentine's Day--or any holiday, for that matter. Therefore, nothing we do is "wrong," from utterly no celebrations, to wild extravagances, to cuddling on the futon with a rented movie. If you haven't figured out how you feel about each other by now, no holiday will prove or disprove your level of commitment to each other.
Why not pick another day that's not Valentine's to celebrate your love for your special someone. Even just a week earlier (or better yet, later) and you're not fighting everyone for restaurant reservations, flowers and chocolate are cheaper (especially the chocolate if you can get it 50% off the day after) and it can be no less special.
In our house we *love* Thanksgiving food. We do the Thanksgiving thing every November, but then the weekend closest to Valentine's Day we do it all over again - turkey, sides, pie, everything (it's on the weekend because we don't have the time to cook that huge of a meal during the week). It all makes sense, at least to us, because we are so thankful to have each other through the good times and the bad that in a way the meaning behind Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving aren't all that different. So we spend a day cooking together and laughing together, and then we end up with a great meal (and a ton of leftovers) that we can enjoy together. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Valentine's Day.
P.S. We keep it thrifty by buying an extra turkey when they are on sale right after Thanksgiving, and then storing it in the chest freezer until February - this year I paid $6 for a 20# turkey.
cook pizza or dinner at home, and then watch an old favorite movie! split dessert, or make rules that you can only spend $10 on gifts for each other- and leave the price tags on. cards and wrapping paper count towards the total- it'll make you be creative and thoughtful :)
Go to a good bakery and get a nice dessert to split. Have a simple meal at home, eat your dessert and say (if you are a man) "Honey, let me do the dishes/put the kids to bed (or whatever your S.O. does each and every night)." You just relax."
Because as the saying goes, "There comes a time in every relationship when a man doing housework is a legitimate form of foreplay."
Best way to be frugal about V-Day? Don't celebrate it at all. Every day is a good day for showing your love. Why save the good heart-deeds for just one day? Making dinner for your honey every night, sharing a glass of wine over your favorite show, cuddling up at the end of a long day - perfect for every day of the year!
We love cooking a nice dinner together, but my favorite thing is to dig out the fondue pot I was given years ago, melt some chocolate, and dip strawberries (or other fruit -whatever isn't too expensive). pair that up with my favorite $6 champagne and we're good.
We usually get takeout from one of our favorite restaurants (with a coupon if possible) and I make a decadent dessert of his choice.
The candy comes the day after when it's marked down!
I didn't have a chance to read everyone else's so I hope it hasn't been said already...
I think this is a nice thing to do in a park, but its always cold around here in February so we do it inside.
Instead of going to one of those "Paint your own pottery" places that cost a bunch of money I like to get 2 small canvases and one big one and some paint supplies from the craft store.
You can start with each person painting their favorite memory, or what you love about the other person or where you see the couple in the future on the little canvases without the other person seeing what you paint.
Then you two get together and paint something on the larger canvas together.
When you're done painting you can exchange the smaller paintings as gifts to each other and hang the larger one somewhere you'll both see it.
I have purchased some stuff(which gave you ECBs) and retured the stuff I don't need. Tonight one of a very nice CVS working was telling me that be carefule that don't return the item which has already give you ECBs otherwise, CVS are starting to have police crack down on those people who did this. Is that true? It sounds scary...am I going to jail? This guy told me that they have sent a lot of people to jail already. Is he just trying to scare me or it is real thing?
A picnic in your own living room (or hers).
Light a candle. Turn off all electronics, sit and talk face to face for an hour. What else do you need?
I have heard about such sites, like Associated Content and Suite 101, but have been nervous to try them because as a professional writer I fear degrading my byline. But maybe that's silly, and then again I could probably write under a pseudonym if these sites can really generate a useful income stream.
Maybe I'll try this one.
I blog at www.shopliftingwithpermission.com.
Great ideas everyone...we give homemade cards with original poems and artwork. Takes a little thought and means the most.
Lipstick on the mirror. Candles. Foot massage. (Billie Holiday optional)
First I hit up Trader Joe's for some awesome, well priced roses on my way home from work. Then I swing home, will clean the house up and light some candles. Next, we have already talked about staying in and making a very simple and light meal. Chicken picatta and angel hair pasta. Then we will take a nice bubble bath. Even though it seems like the night is laid out, it moves seemlessly when you are in love ;o)
Miss you Andrea. I look forward to your posts...
Last year for Valentine's Day, I made my husband a booklet of dates - 52 different ideas for dates that I wrote on nice cardstock and bound together. The idea was that he could pick one of the dates each week. The ideas included a picnic in the park, or a visit to a local museum, or going to a movie, or just staying in.
He loved it and it was very fun to put together.
My frugal tip for Valentine's Day would be to have a Valentine's Day event the day before like a 'picnic' work lunch, so you surprise them and save some money and avoid all the other couples trying to do generic Valentine's Day things like having dinner at an expensive restaurant.
Surprise your significant other at work since February 13 is a Friday with a nice brown bag lunch you packed filled with heart shaped sandwiches (use a heart shaped cookie cutter), heart shaped cookies, some sparkling grape juice in place of champagne (and grape juice is definitely ok for work environment, alcohol may not be). Bring a nice little paper tablecloth from the dollar store, buy two plastic champagne glasses, have a little toast and talk about how much you mean to each other.
They're sure to be surprised and this is a gift from the heart -- which never costs much, but will mean a lot, and they'll always remember. :-) Happy Valentine's Day
We're hitting the fanciest restaurant in town--the day before Valentines, during the early bird special. Fantastic food, beautiful atmosphere--but no long lines or Valentines Day crowds.
I like to do something special for my hubby at work, too--bring him a single rose or some cupcakes. Something that makes the other folks at work jealous that he's married to such a cool wife. ;)
My boyfriend and I are both broke grad students, but we still want to have our special celebrations when we can. So this year instead of a big night out with 3 courses, wine, and all the works, I decided to make a reservation at a really fancy steak house in town - for lunch! The menu is almost identical to its dinner menu, but at a fraction of the price. We're just excited to finally go to this nice restaurant together and not break the bank - and this way, we can grab a bottle of wine and a DVD and just have a relaxing, low-key, low-cost night together at home while still having a full-out special day for ourselves.
We have never really gone whole hog with the Valentine's celebration thing, but it is a nice opportunity to cook a lovely dinner together. We try to create a theme - my favorite over the past 10 years has been "Places I Have Visited." So there were some crazy culinary matches, but all of the food was wonderful -- and what doesn't go with champagne?!
That's Xin Lu. Sorry.
I like #3 on Xin Liu's post: Cook a favorite meal at home. Sharing a meal is such an intimate practice, especially if you're conscious of it. And when you put your own effort into it, it's even more special.
The best thing I ever did was to let go of my expectations for what my dh and I "should" do for Valentine's Day--or any holiday, for that matter. Therefore, nothing we do is "wrong," from utterly no celebrations, to wild extravagances, to cuddling on the futon with a rented movie. If you haven't figured out how you feel about each other by now, no holiday will prove or disprove your level of commitment to each other.
Why not pick another day that's not Valentine's to celebrate your love for your special someone. Even just a week earlier (or better yet, later) and you're not fighting everyone for restaurant reservations, flowers and chocolate are cheaper (especially the chocolate if you can get it 50% off the day after) and it can be no less special.
I hand-make a card and we cook a special meal together.
we cook a very fancy dinner but it still costs MUCH less than going out and we have WAY more food :) then we go out for dessert.
In our house we *love* Thanksgiving food. We do the Thanksgiving thing every November, but then the weekend closest to Valentine's Day we do it all over again - turkey, sides, pie, everything (it's on the weekend because we don't have the time to cook that huge of a meal during the week). It all makes sense, at least to us, because we are so thankful to have each other through the good times and the bad that in a way the meaning behind Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving aren't all that different. So we spend a day cooking together and laughing together, and then we end up with a great meal (and a ton of leftovers) that we can enjoy together. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Valentine's Day.
P.S. We keep it thrifty by buying an extra turkey when they are on sale right after Thanksgiving, and then storing it in the chest freezer until February - this year I paid $6 for a 20# turkey.
cook pizza or dinner at home, and then watch an old favorite movie! split dessert, or make rules that you can only spend $10 on gifts for each other- and leave the price tags on. cards and wrapping paper count towards the total- it'll make you be creative and thoughtful :)
Go to a good bakery and get a nice dessert to split. Have a simple meal at home, eat your dessert and say (if you are a man) "Honey, let me do the dishes/put the kids to bed (or whatever your S.O. does each and every night)." You just relax."
Because as the saying goes, "There comes a time in every relationship when a man doing housework is a legitimate form of foreplay."
Best way to be frugal about V-Day? Don't celebrate it at all. Every day is a good day for showing your love. Why save the good heart-deeds for just one day? Making dinner for your honey every night, sharing a glass of wine over your favorite show, cuddling up at the end of a long day - perfect for every day of the year!